Firearm support and related method of use

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10690434-B1
Application number	US-201916404944-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	May 7, 2019
Priority date	Jan 14, 2019
Publication date	Jun 23, 2020
Grant date	Jun 23, 2020

Abstract

A support pod that supports a weapon in a firing position includes a support tube telescopingly joined with a leg having a longitudinal axis. A lock portion defines grooves downwardly angled relative to the longitudinal axis. A guide portion defines recesses downwardly angled relative to the axis. The recesses can be distal and separate from the grooves, and both optionally are downwardly spiraling. The leg is operable in a locked mode, in which a lock element is in a groove, and a guide element is in a corresponding recess, to set a first overall length of the support. The leg can operate in an adjustment mode in which the lock and guide element can transition out from the groove and recess, and can move to other respective grooves and recesses chosen by a user to set the pod at another overall length. A related method of use is provided.

First claim

The embodiment of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A support pod configured to support a weapon in a firing position, the support pod comprising:
a base configured to engage the weapon when the weapon is oriented to shoot a projectile from the weapon at a target;
a support extending downward from the base, the support including an exterior and an interior;
a guide element extending into the interior of the support;
a leg telescopingly joined with the support, the leg including a longitudinal axis and a guide portion, the guide portion defining a plurality of recesses;
wherein the plurality of recesses are transverse to the longitudinal axis of the leg and are downwardly inclined relative to the longitudinal axis,
wherein the guide element is movably disposed in at least one of the plurality of recesses such that the guide element is configured to move at least one of into and out from each recess,
wherein the leg is operable in a locked mode and an adjustment mode,
wherein in the locked mode, the guide element is in a first one of the plurality of recesses,
wherein in the adjustment mode, the guide element is removed from the plurality of recesses,
wherein in the adjustment mode, the leg is movable relative to the support such that an overall length of the support pod is adjustable,
whereby a user is able to adjust the overall length and thereby orient the weapon to fire the weapon at a target.

2. The support pod of claim 1 ,
wherein the leg includes a neutral landing disposed adjacent the plurality of recesses,
wherein the guide element is adjacent the neutral landing, and out of the plurality of recesses, in the adjustment mode.

3. The support pod of claim 2 ,
wherein the neutral landing is a part of a secondary common recess that extends parallel to the longitudinal axis of the leg,
wherein the secondary common recess transitions to a plurality of openings of the plurality of recesses.

4. The support pod of claim 1 ,
wherein the guide element is a fastener configured to extend into and move relative to at least one of the plurality of recesses and the secondary common recess.

5. The support pod of claim 4 ,
wherein the support is in the form of a tubular cylinder;
wherein the fastener is accessible from the exterior of the support and extends through a hole defined in the support.

6. The support pod of claim 1 , comprising:
a lock ring rotatably joined with the support,
wherein the lock ring is disposed adjacent a lock element adjacent the leg,
wherein the lock ring is configurable to engage the lock element with the leg in the locked mode.

7. The support pod of claim 6 ,
wherein the lock ring defines a ramped surface extending about the longitudinal axis,
wherein the lock ring is rotatable relative to the leg such that the lock element rolls relative to the ramped surface.

8. The support pod of claim 1 ,
wherein the plurality of recesses are adjacent a common neutral landing,
wherein each of the plurality of recesses branch transversely away from the neutral landing,
wherein the neutral landing is parallel to the longitudinal axis.

9. The support pod of claim 1 ,
wherein each of the plurality of recesses are downwardly angled relative to the longitudinal axis at an angle of at least 45°.

10. The support pod of claim 1 ,
wherein the guide element is configured to track in at least one of the plurality of recesses under the force of gravity so that the guide element bottoms out against a lower recess part in the at least one of the plurality of recesses in the locked mode.

11. The support pod of claim 1 , comprising:
a cylindrical surface forming a portion of the leg,
wherein the plurality of grooves are defined in the cylindrical surface,
wherein the guide element is configured to move adjacent the cylindrical surface and into at least one of the plurality of recesses when the guide element is transitioning toward the locked mode.

12. A support pod configured to support a weapon in a firing position, the support pod comprising:
a base configured to engage the weapon when the weapon is oriented to fire at a target;
a support joined with the base;
a leg telescopingly joined with the support, the leg including a longitudinal axis;
a guide portion defining a plurality of recesses that spiral downwardly about the longitudinal axis;
a guide element movably disposed in at least one of the plurality of recesses such that the guide element is configured to move at least one of into and out from the at least one of the plurality of recesses when the leg operates in at least one of a locked mode and an adjustment mode.

13. The support pod of claim 12 ,
wherein in the locked mode, the guide element is in a first one of the plurality of recesses,
wherein in the adjustment mode, the guide element transitions out from the first one of the plurality of recesses,
wherein in the adjustment mode, the leg is movable relative to the support such that an overall length of the support pod is adjustable from a first overall length to a different, second overall length.

14. The support pod of claim 12 ,
wherein each of the plurality of recesses includes an angled bottom.

15. The support pod of claim 12 ,
wherein each of the plurality of recesses has a substantially constant depth from a first end to a second end of each recess.

16. The support pod of claim 12 ,
wherein the guide element is a fastener having a distal tip that is slidably disposed in the at least one of the plurality of recesses.

17. The support pod of claim 12 ,
wherein the guide element is configured to ride along a neutral landing when in the adjustment mode,
wherein the guide element is configured to diverge away from the neutral landing end into a first recess when transitioning to the locked mode.

18. A method of using a support pod to orient a weapon in a firing configuration, the method comprising:
engaging a base adjacent a first surface of a weapon;
projecting a support and a leg away from the base;
rotating the support and leg relative to one another in a first direction to transition the leg from a first locked mode, in which a guide element is disposed in a first recess that is downwardly angled relative to a longitudinal axis of the leg to a first adjustment mode, in which the guide element is removed from the first recess;
moving the support and the leg in a telescoping manner relative to one another to at least one of increase and decrease an overall length of the support pod; and
rotating the support and leg relative to one another in a second direction opposite the first direction to transition the leg from the first adjustment mode to a second locked mode,
whereby a user is able to adjust the overall length and thereby orient the weapon supported on the support pod in a predetermined configuration to fire the weapon at a target.

19. The method of claim 18 ,
wherein in the second locked mode, the guide element is disposed in a second recess that is downwardly angled relative to the longitudinal axis of the leg.

20. The method of claim 18 comprising:
rotating a lock ring about the longitudinal axis so that a lock element, unlocks the leg before the rotating the support and leg relative to one another.

Assignees

• Leapers Inc

Inventors

• Ding Tai-Lai
• Yu Tat Shing
• Tseng Hsien Jen

Classifications

• F41A23/02 Primary

  Mountings without wheels · CPC title

• F41A23/06

  adjustable · CPC title

• F41A23/10 Primary

  adjustable · CPC title

• F41A23/14

  adjustable · CPC title